Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove). [Senate Republican Caucus]

The Senate Republican Caucus will have a new leader in January when Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) takes the helm from Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) after the caucus unanimously voted for Curran to be their leader at a closed-door meeting Tuesday night.

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) speaks at a rally at the Illinois Capitol Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

The first of two weeks of fall veto session wrapped up Wednesday without any changes to the SAFE-T Act and Democrats said little about what changes they are considering making to the law that received heavy criticism during the election season.

Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) speaks at a news conference in Springfield Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) often puts her thoughts bluntly when debating a bill and says she will continue to be herself as House Minority Leader but hopes she can continue forming relationships with House Democrats.

Members of the Prisoner Review Board testify in front of the Legislative Audit Commission Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

The spring session concluded in April with ongoing controversy over appointments by Gov. JB Pritzker to the Prisoner Review Board. On Tuesday, lawmakers told board members they would like recommendations about how to improve the appointment process.

Left, Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), and right, Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) will be the new Republican caucus leaders.

Both the House and Senate Republican caucuses will change their leaders when the new General Assembly is sworn in in January after members took a pair of private votes Tuesday night.

The Workers Rights Amendment was declared passed Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. And the Senate Executive Committee passed a bill banning state investments in Russian assets.

The Illinois State Capitol

Lawmakers will return to Springfield Tuesday for the first of likely five session days scheduled for the remainder of 2022 just a week after elections dealt blows to the Republican Party. Several issues could be brought up during the session, though Democrats will continue to have a super majority next year.

Illinois State Capitol

Democrats will maintain their super majorities in the General Assembly for at least another two years after stamping out any hint of a “red wave” in Illinois.

Supporters of Amendment 1 speak at a news conference in Chicago in late October.   

An amendment to the Illinois Constitution to make collective bargaining a constitutional right was on track to pass, though its success will not be officially determined until the State Board of Elections certifies the results.

Gov. JB Pritzker enters the Marriott Marquis Hotel ballroom in Chicago on Election Day. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

After a passionate victory speech Tuesday night that included direct references to former President Donald Trump and criticisms of the Republican Party, Pritzker insisted he is focused on his next four years as governor after completing a solid victory over Republican challenger Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia).

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) speaks at a news conference in October.  

Republican House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) will not run for another term as his caucus’ leader, Durkin announced Wednesday morning after a disastrous election for House Republicans.

Gov. JB Pritzker celebrates winning a second term as governor at the Marriott Marquis in Chicago Tuesday night. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Gov. JB Pritzker won a second term as governor Tuesday night defeating Republican challenger Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) 55 percent to 42 percent as of 10 p.m. Tuesday.

From left to right, Alexi Giannoulias, Susana Mendoza, Mike Frerichs and Kwame Raoul. 

Tuesday appeared to be a successful Election Day for Illinois Democrats as they are expected to keep their majority in the Supreme Court and the proposed Workers’ Rights Amendment appeared to finish the night with plenty of support.

Gov. JB Pritzker, left, and Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), right, campaign in September. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Months of speculation, talking points and goals will be decided Tuesday night in races for offices throughout Illinois that have grabbed voters’ attention for positions on key issues, big spending or controversial statements.

Republican attorney general candidate Tom DeVore, center, and Republican nominee for governor Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), left, celebrate with rally goers in Oak Brook Monday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

Republican nominee for attorney general Tom DeVore and Republican nominee for governor Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) first teamed up on lawsuits opposing COVID-19 mitigations at the beginning of the pandemic when much was still unknown about the virus.

Over two years later, the candidates again teamed up on the final day of their campaigns to announce their opposition to any proposed COVID-19 vaccination requirement in Illinois schools.

Gov. JB Pritzker, left, greets Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign rally in Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood Sunday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Chicago for the second time in less than two months to stump for Gov. JB Pritzker just two days before voters will decide whether Pritzker should get a second term as governor.

Left, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks at a news conference with Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau in Oak Brook Friday. Center, President Joe Biden speaks in Joliet Saturday. Right, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) speaks to reporters following a townhall meeting in Oak Brook Friday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line & White House]

Top national leaders including President Joe Biden traveled to the suburbs to stump for congressional candidates in tight races Friday and Saturday just days before voters will decide which party will control Congress for the next two years.

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) speaks at a news conference at the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police in August. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

On a February 2021 night in Effingham less than one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, first-term Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) announced he would challenge Gov. JB Pritzker in 2022.

“We've tried the country club approach. We've tried the Chicago Loop approach. And I don't think that's worked for anyone in this room,” Bailey told supporters at his campaign kickoff.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced they will make separate visits to Illinois this weekend. Republican Senate nominee Kathy Salvi announced her campaign agreed to a resolution on misprinted Schuyler County ballots. And Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) wrote an emotional letter imploring residents in the 19th Senate District to vote against Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfurt).

Republican attorney general candidate Tom DeVore, left, and Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul, right. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

Crime has been a top issue in the race for Illinois’ chief law enforcement office as Republican challenger Tom DeVore clashes with Attorney General Kwame Raoul over the SAFE-T Act while Raoul focuses on legislative efforts to crack down on crime in Illinois.